Pyrethrins and Pyrethroids

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Pyrethrins and Pyrethroids
In recent years, pyrethrins have become more and more popular in the manufacturing of pesticides. It is now used in numerous commercial products worldwide. Many of these products come as sprays and solutions that are used by many households, pet shampoo, and pesticides. The use of pyrethrins has become even more conventional since it has been replacing the use of organophosphates, which were proven to be more toxic to birds and mammals in comparison to the pyrethrins and pyrethroids. Pyrethrins are considered safer because it is a natural botanical product derived from Chrysanthemum flowers.
Pyrethrins are neurotoxins that can lead to paralysis in insects, followed by eventual death. There are six major components of the chemical that possess pesticidal activity: pyrethrin I, pyrethrin II, cinerin I, cinerin II, jasmolin I, and jasmolin II. (US Dept. of Health, 2003) Pyrethroids are synthetic products based on the chemical structure of pyrethrins and therefore, can function similarly to the natural product found in Chrysanthemum flowers. These compunds usually to have to be modified in order for it to be more stable when exposed to moderate heat. (US Dept. of Health, 2003) Some of these pyrethroids are shown in Figure 1. Both pyrethrins and pyrethroids are usually sold in combination with synergists such as piperonyl butoxide and MGK-254. Such synergists do not have any pesticidal properties, but help enhance the effects of the neurotoxins by preventing the insect from metabolizing the toxins. (US Dept. of Health, 2003)

Figure 1: Pyrethroids Registered for Use in the U.S.A.
The pyrethroids shown here are the compounds that are allowed for use in the United States of America. Many of the anti-pest so...

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